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Matthew Macklin Faces Career Defining Fight in Dublin

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Macklin was victorious in Germany, but was also exposed for ring rust. (image via. WinningTips)

Following a devastating knockout defeat to Gennady Golovkin last year, and showing signs of ring rust on his return fights - Matthew Macklin now finds himself in a fight where defeat is no option as he tops a Matchroom bill on Saturday night in Dublin. Macklin tackles Argentine middleweight Jorge Sebastian Heiland in a final title eliminator for the WBC crown.
The Irish-British fighter admitted that loss would plunge his career into serious doubt by adding: "It's the fight I need at this stage and if I cannot beat him, then that's it really." Note that Macklin said "that's it" which has been spiralling around social media like a space rocket.
Since his crushing defeat to Golovkin, which broke two ribs, Macklin has added two victories to his fight record, the latest being on the undercard of Paul Smith's world title challenge of Arthur Abraham. In that fight, Macklin's ring rust was badly exposed. He was slow, and several punches per round were wayward and off target. The former world champion admitted that and is looking to prove he still has it when he fights in Dublin this Saturday.
It really is make or break for Macklin, training in Manchester with the Gallagher stable. However, a victory would move him a step closer to a mouth-watering showdown with Miguel Cotto in New York. Macklin: "Cotto is such a big draw in New York at Madison Square Garden, but if you can do 60,000 people at Croke Park then the economics of the fight change."Next month in Las Vegas, fellow Irishman Andy Lee goes up against undefeated Russian middleweight Matt Korobov for the vacant WBO title, and Macklin didn't rule out the possibility of fighting Lee sometime next year. "If he can win then me and Andy fighting for a world title is massive. It's a huge fight anyway but that world title is a key element."

TheSportMatrix • We Live For Sport: Matthew Macklin Faces Career Defining Fight in Dublin

Matthew Macklin Faces Career Defining Fight in Dublin

Following a devastating knockout defeat to Gennady Golovkin back in, and showing signs of ring rust on his return - Matthew Macklin now finds himself in a fight where defeat is no option as he tops a Matchroom bill on Saturday night in Dublin.